State lawmakers earn three times your pay

Average state lawmaker makes 3 times as much as average state taxpayer

By Jimmy Vielkind

Updated 7:57 am, Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Albany

The average New York state lawmaker makes three times as much money as the average New Yorker.

An analysis of financial disclosure forms conducted by The New York World, a subsidiary of the Columbia Journalism School, in conjunction with good-government advocates Common Cause and the New York Public Interest Research Group, has allowed for an unprecedented survey of the wealth and income of New York's 213 elected legislators.

Legislators have long had to disclose the source of any outside income, but until this year the amount was shrouded. In July, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics posted forms that included outside income disclosed in narrow bands. The groups have centralized that information into a searchable, rankable, online database.

"This information will help New Yorkers understand why legislators are doing what they're doing in 2014," said Bill Mahoney, NYPIRG's research coordinator. "There have been allegations in potential conflicts of interest in the past, and having this information should make it easier to judge whether those really exist."

A report issued Tuesday found that at least 27 state lawmakers are millionaires. The number would almost certainly rise if the group's calculations of net assets — stocks and bonds as well as real estate and deferred compensation, less any debt — included elected officials' primary residences, into which many families sink a large portion of their wealth.

Several of the lawmakers are from the Capital Region, where five of the 11 state legislators reported net assets over $1 million. Extensive stock holdings led Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna, to report at least $2,174,003. His stake in a family pharmacy pushed Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, to report net assets of at least $1,272,500.

Capital Region lawmakers were more middling in the look at outside income, including spousal earnings. Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, R-Glenville, reported between $205,000 and $294,000 in total 2012 income, and Assemblyman Phil Steck, D-Colonie, reported between $205,000 and $345,000. The figure for Steck, who was elected in 2012, does not include pay as a state legislator.

Lawmakers reported between $7,979,502 and $13,383,467 in outside earnings, the report says.

More Information

Wealth leaders

Senate, Net Assets

John Bonacic (R), $5,010,001 to $6,726,00

Liz Krueger (D), $4,700,000 to $7,215,000

John DeFrancisco (R), $3,967,000 to $6,675,000

Assembly, Net Assets

Jane Corwin (R), $40,127,001 to $74,626,000

Amy Paulin (D), $18,696,663 to $34,771,030

Chuck Lavine (D), $6,028,040 to $10,610,000

Source: New York World/NYPIRG/Common Cause analysis of data provided by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and NYS Comptroller

Wealth of Capital Region legislators

Senate//Net Assets//2012 Income

Neil Breslin (D)//$665,003 to $1,313,000//$125,000 to $220,000//

Hugh Farley (R)//$2,174,003 to $3,753,000//$125,606 to $155,606//

Kathy Marchione (R)//$1,047,000 to $2,020,000//$175,005 to $255,000//

Cecilia Tkaczyk (D)//$740,000 to $1,320,000//$125,000 to $220,000//

Assembly//Net Assets//2012 Income

Patricia Fahy (D)//$1,196,000 to $1,680,000//$125,000 to $220,000//

Tony Jordan (R)//$451,000 to $755,000//$172,501 to $198,500//

John McDonald (D)//$1,272,500 to $2,066,250//$175,000 to $250,000//

Steve McLaughlin (R)//$66,000 to $175,000//$139,500 to $168,500//

Angelo Santabarbara (D)//$421,333 to $931,665//$40,000 to $130,000//

Phil Steck (D)//$300,000 to $500,000//$205,000 to $345,000

Jim Tedisco (R)//$1,171,000 to $2,140,000//$205,000 to $294,000

Source: New York World/NYPIRG/Common Cause analysis of data provided by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and NYS Comptroller. Figures for Assemblyman John McDonald have been adjusted to exclude his primary residence, in line with reporting requirements.

There had been talk last year, which largely evaporated amid Superstorm Sandy and then a series of scandals, of increasing lawmaker salaries. Their base pay has been $79,500 since 1998, but many lawmakers receive stipends for chairing legislative committees or taking other leadership posts.

This factored into the groups' analysis, which found that the average median household income for a state lawmaker was between $137,000 and $172,000.

At the high end, it's more than triple the median household income for a New York family, which the Census Bureau estimates at $56,951.

Thirty-six lawmakers reported having no savings, or debts exceeding their income, the report said.

"I don't think many people were too shocked to learn that legislators are wealthier and make a lot more money than average New Yorkers," said Mahoney. "It is a part-time job and many of them do treat it as such."